Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

1 (vii)After these things, God tested Avraham. He said to him, “Avraham!” and he answered, “Here I am.”

2 He said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love, Yitz’chak; and go to the land of Moriyah. There you are to offer him as a burnt offering on a mountain that I will point out to you.”

3 Avraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, together with Yitz’chak his son. He cut the wood for the burnt offering, departed and went toward the place God had told him about.

4 On the third day, Avraham raised his eyes and saw the place in the distance.

5 Avraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. I and the boy will go there, worship and return to you.”

6 Avraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on Yitz’chak his son. Then he took in his hand the fire and the knife, and they both went on together.

7 Yitz’chak spoke to Avraham his father: “My father?” He answered, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “I see the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

8 Avraham replied, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son”; and they both went on together.

9 They came to the place God had told him about; and Avraham built the altar there, set the wood in order, bound Yitz’chak his son and laid him on the altar, on the wood.

10 Then Avraham put out his hand and took the knife to kill his son.

11 But the angel ofAdonaicalled to him out of heaven: “Avraham? Avraham!” He answered, “Here I am.”

12 He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy! Don’t do anything to him! For now I know that you are a man who fears God, because you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

13 Avraham raised his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. Avraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son.

14 Avraham called the placeAdonaiYir’eh [Adonaiwill see (to it),Adonaiprovides] — as it is said to this day, “On the mountainAdonaiis seen.”

15 The angel ofAdonaicalled to Avraham a second time out of heaven.

16 He said, “I have sworn by myself — saysAdonai—that because you have done this, because you haven’t withheld your son, your only son,

17 I will most certainly bless you; and I will most certainly increase your descendants to as many as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the cities of their enemies,

18 and by your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed — because you obeyed my order.”

19 So Avraham returned to his young men. They got up and went together to Be’er-Sheva, and Avraham settled in Be’er-Sheva.

(Maftir)

20 Afterwards, Avraham was told, “Milkah too has borne children, to your brother Nachor —

21 ‘Utz his firstborn, Buz his brother, K’mu’el the father of Aram,

22 Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Yidlaf and B’tu’el.

23 B’tu’el fathered Rivkah. These eight Milkah bore to Nachor Avraham’s brother.

24 His concubine, whose name was Re’umah, bore children also: Tevach, Gacham, Tachash and Ma‘akhah.

Haftarah Vayera: M’lakhim Bet (2 Kings) 4:1–37 (A); 4:1–23 (S)

B’rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah Vayera: Luke 17:26 –37; Romans 9:6 – 9; Galatians 4:21–31; Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 6:13–20; 11:13–19; Ya‘akov (James) 2:14–24; 2 Kefa (2 Peter) 2:4–10

Parashah 5: Hayyei-Sarah (Sarah’s life) 23:1–25:18

1 Sarah lived to be 127 years old; these were the years of Sarah’s life.

2 Sarah died in Kiryat-Arba, also known as Hevron, in the land of Kena‘an; and Avraham came to mourn Sarah and weep for her.

3 Then he got up from his dead one and said to the sons of Het,

4 “I am a foreigner living as an alien with you; let me have a burial site with you, so that I can bury my dead wife.”

5 The sons of Het answered Avraham,

6 “Listen to us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us, so choose any of our tombs to bury your dead — not one of us would refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.”

7 Avraham got up, bowed before the people of the land, the sons of Het,

8 and spoke with them. “If it is your desire to help me bury my dead, then listen to me: ask ‘Efron the son of Tzochar

9 to give me the cave of Makhpelah, which he owns, the one at the end of his field. He should sell it to me in your presence at its full value; then I will have a burial site of my own.”

10 ‘Efron the Hitti was sitting among the sons of Het, and he gave Avraham his answer in the presence of the sons of Het who belonged to the ruling council of the city:

11 “No, my lord, listen to me: I’m giving you the field, with its cave — I’m giving it to you. In the presence of my people I give it to you.”

12 Avraham bowed before the people of the land

13 and spoke to ‘Efron in their hearing: “Please be good enough to listen to me. I will pay the price of the field; accept it from me, and I will bury my dead there.”

14 But ‘Efron answered Avraham,

15 “My lord, listen to me. A plot of land worth 400 silvershekels — what is that between me and you? Just bury your dead.”

16 Avraham got the point of what ‘Efron had said, so he weighed out for ‘Efron the amount of money he had specified in the presence of the sons of Het, 400 silvershekels of the weight accepted among merchants [ten pounds].

(ii)

17 Thus the field of ‘Efron in Makhpelah, which is by Mamre — the field, its cave and all the trees in and around it — were deeded

18 to Avraham as his possession in the presence of the sons of Het who belonged to the ruling council of the city.

19 Then Avraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Makhpelah, by Mamre, also known as Hevron, in the land of Kena‘an.

20 The field and its cave had been purchased by Avraham from the sons of Het as a burial-site which would belong to him.

1 By now Avraham was old, advanced in years; andAdonaihad blessed Avraham in everything.

2 Avraham said to the servant who had served him the longest, who was in charge of all he owned, “Put your hand under my thigh;

3 because I want you to swear byAdonai, God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not choose a wife for my son from among the women of the Kena‘ani, among whom I am living;

4 but that you will go to my homeland, to my kinsmen, to choose a wife for my son Yitz’chak.”

5 The servant replied, “Suppose the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land. Must I then bring your son back to the land from which you came?”

6 Avraham said to him, “See to it that you don’t bring my son back there.

7 Adonai, the God of heaven — who took me away from my father’s house and away from the land I was born in, who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘I will give this land to your descendants’ — he will send his angel ahead of you; and you are to bring a wife for my son from there.

8 But if the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are released from your obligation under my oath. Just don’t bring my son back there.”

9 The servant put his hand under the thigh of Avraham his master and swore to him concerning the matter.

(iii)

10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and all kinds of gifts from his master, got up and went to Aram-Naharayim, to Nachor’s city.

11 Toward evening, when the women go out to draw water, he had the camels kneel down outside the city by the well.

12 He said, “Adonai, God of my master Avraham, please let me succeed today; and show your grace to my master Avraham.

13 Here I am, standing by the spring, as the daughters of the townsfolk come out to draw water.

14 I will say to one of the girls, ‘Please lower your jug, so that I can drink.’ If she answers, ‘Yes, drink; and I will water your camels as well,’ then let her be the one you intend for your servant Yitz’chak. This is how I will know that you have shown grace to my master.”

15 Before he had finished speaking, Rivkah the daughter of B’tu’el son of Milkah the wife of Nachor Avraham’s brother, came out with her jug on her shoulder.

16 The girl was very beautiful, a virgin, never having had sexual relations with any man. She went down to the spring, filled her jug and came up.

17 The servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a sip of water from your jug to drink.”

18 “Drink, my lord,” she replied, and immediately lowered her jug onto her arm and let him drink.

19 When she was through letting him drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your camels until they have drunk their fill.”

20 She quickly emptied her jug into the trough, then ran again to the well to draw water, and kept on drawing water for all his camels.

21 The man gazed at her in silence, waiting to find out whetherAdonaihad made his trip successful or not.

22 When the camels were done drinking, the man took a gold nose-ring weighing one-fifth of an ounce and two gold bracelets weighing four ounces

23 and asked, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”

24 She answered, “I am the daughter of B’tu’el the son Milkah bore to Nachor,”

25 adding, “We have plenty of straw and fodder, and room for staying overnight.”

26 The man bowed his head and prostrated himself beforeAdonai.(iv)

27 Then he said, “Blessed beAdonai, God of my master Avraham, who has not abandoned his faithful love for my master; becauseAdonaihas guided me to the house of my master’s kinsmen.”

28 The girl ran off and told her mother’s household what had happened.

29-30 Rivkah had a brother named Lavan. When he saw the nose-ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists besides, and when he heard his sister Rivkah’s report of what the man had said to her, he ran out to the spring and found the man standing there by the camels.

31 “Come on in,” he said, “you whomAdonaihas blessed! Why are you standing outside when I have made room in the house and prepared a place for the camels?”

32 So the man went inside, and while the camels were being unloaded and provided straw and fodder, water was brought for him to wash his feet and the feet of the men with him.

33 But when a meal was set before him, he said, “I won’t eat until I say what I have to say.” Lavan said, “Speak.”

34 He said, “I am Avraham’s servant.

35 Adonaihas greatly blessed my master, so that he has grown wealthy. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys.

36 Sarah my master’s wife bore my master a son when she was old, and he has given him everything he has.

37 My master made me swear, saying, ‘You are not to choose a wife for my son from among the women of the Kena‘ani, among whom I am living;

38 rather, you are to go to my father’s house, to my kinsmen, to choose a wife for my son.’

39 I said to my master, ‘Suppose the woman isn’t willing to follow me.’

40 Avraham answered me, ‘Adonai, in whose presence I live, will send his angel with you to make your trip successful; and you are to pick a wife for my son from my kinsmen in my father’s house;

41 this will release you from your obligation under my oath. But if, when you come to my kinsmen, they refuse to give her to you, this too will release you from my oath.’

42 “So today, I came to the spring and said, ‘Adonai, God of my master Avraham, if you are causing my trip to succeed in its purpose,

43 then, here I am, standing by the spring. I will say to one of the girls coming out to draw water, “Let me have a sip of water from your jug.”

44 If she answers, “Yes, drink; and I will water your camels as well,” then let her be the woman you intend for my master’s son.’

45 And even before I had finished speaking to my heart, there came Rivkah, going out with her jug on her shoulder; she went down to the spring and drew water. When I said to her, ‘Please let me have a drink,’

46 she immediately lowered the jug from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well.’ So I drank, and she had the camels drink too.

47 “I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ and she answered, ‘The daughter of B’tu’el son of Nachor, whom Milkah bore to him.’ Then I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists,

48 bowed my head, prostrated myself beforeAdonaiand blessedAdonai, God of my master Avraham, for having led me in the right way to obtain my master’s brother’s [grand]daughter for his son.

49 “So now if you people intend to show grace and truth to my master, tell me. But if not, tell me, so that I can turn elsewhere.”

50 Lavan and B’tu’el replied, “Since this comes fromAdonai, we can’t say anything to you either bad or good.

51 Rivkah is here in front of you; take her and go. Let her be your master’s son’s wife, asAdonaihas said.”

52 When Avraham’s servant heard what they said, he prostrated himself on the ground toAdonai.(v)

53 Then the servant brought out silver and gold jewelry, together with clothing, and gave them to Rivkah. He also gave valuable gifts to her brother and mother.

54 He and his men then ate and drank and stayed the night.

In the morning they got up; and he said, “Send me off to my master.”

55 Her brother and mother said, “Let the girl stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that, she will go.”

56 He answered them, “Don’t delay me, sinceAdonaihas made my trip successful, but let me go back to my master.”

57 They said, “We will call the girl and see what she says.”

58 They called Rivkah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” and she replied, “I will.”

59 So they sent their sister Rivkah away, with her nurse, Avraham’s servant and his men.

60 They blessed Rivkah with these words: “Our sister, may you be the mother of millions, and may your descendants possess the cities of those who hate them.”

61 Then Rivkah and her maids mounted the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rivkah and went on his way.

62 Meanwhile, Yitz’chak, one evening after coming along the road from Be’er-Lachai-Ro’i — he was living in the Negev —

63 went out walking in the field; and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching.

64 Rivkah too looked up; and when she saw Yitz’chak, she quickly dismounted the camel.

65 She said to the servant, “Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?” When the servant replied, “It’s my master,” she took her veil and covered herself.

66 The servant told Yitz’chak everything he had done.

67 Then Yitz’chak brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent and took Rivkah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. Thus was Yitz’chak comforted for the loss of his mother.

1 (vi)Avraham took another wife, whose name was K’turah.

2 She bore him Zimran, Yokshan, Medan, Midyan, Yishbak; and Shuach.

3 Yokshan fathered Sh’va and D’dan. The sons of D’dan were Ashurim, L’tushim and L’umim.

4 The sons of Midyan were ‘Eifah, ‘Efer, Hanokh, Avida and Elda‘ah. All these were descendants of K’turah.

5 Avraham gave everything he owned to Yitz’chak.

6 But to the sons of the concubines he made grants while he was still living and sent them off to the east, to the land of Kedem, away from Yitz’chak his son.

7 This is how long Avraham lived: 175 years.

8 Then Avraham breathed his last, dying at a ripe old age, an old man full of years; and he was gathered to his people.

9 Yitz’chak and Yishma‘el his sons buried him in the cave of Makhpelah, in the field of ‘Efron the son of Tzochar the Hitti, by Mamre,

10 the field which Avraham purchased from the sons of Het. Avraham was buried there with Sarah his wife.

11 After Avraham died, God blessed Yitz’chak his son, and Yitz’chak lived near Be’er-Lachai-Ro’i.

(vii)

12 Here is the genealogy of Yishma‘el, Avraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian woman bore to Avraham.

13 These are the names of the sons of Yishma‘el, listed in the order of their birth. The firstborn of Yishma‘el was N’vayot; followed by Kedar, Adbe’el, Mivsam,

14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa,

15 Hadad, Teima, Y’tur, Nafish and Kedmah.(Maftir)

16 These are the sons of Yishma‘el, and these are their names, according to their settlements and camps, twelve tribal rulers.

17 This is how long Yishma‘el lived: 137 years. Then he breathed his last, died and was gathered to his people.

18 Yishma‘el’s sons lived between Havilah and Shur, near Egypt as you go toward Ashur; he settled near all his kinsmen.

Haftarah Hayyei-Sarah: M’lakhim Alef (1 Kings) 1:1–31

B’rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah Hayyei-Sarah: Mattityahu (Matthew) 8:19–22; 27:3–10; Luke 9:57–62

Parashah 6: Tol’dot (History) 25:19–28:9

19 Here is the history of Yitz’chak, Avraham’s son. Avraham fathered Yitz’chak.

20 Yitz’chak was forty years old when he took Rivkah, the daughter of B’tu’el the Arami from Paddan-Aram and sister of Lavan the Arami, to be his wife.

21 Yitz’chak prayed toAdonaion behalf of his wife, because she was childless.Adonaiheeded his prayer, and Rivkah became pregnant.

22 The children fought with each other inside her so much that she said, “If it’s going to be like this, why go on living?” So she went to inquire ofAdonai,

23 who answered her, “There are two nations in your womb. From birth they will be two rival peoples. One of these peoples will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

24 When the time for her delivery came, there were twins in her womb.

25 The first to come out was reddish and covered all over with hair, like a coat; so they named him ‘Esav [completely formed, that is, having hair already].

26 Then his brother emerged, with his hand holding ‘Esav’s heel, so he was called Ya‘akov [he catches by the heel, he supplants]. Yitz’chak was sixty years old when she bore them.

27 The boys grew; and ‘Esav became a skillful hunter, an outdoorsman; while Ya‘akov was a quiet man who stayed in the tents.

28 Yitz’chak favored ‘Esav, because he had a taste for game; Rivkah favored Ya‘akov.

29 One day when Ya‘akov had cooked some stew, ‘Esav came in from the open country, exhausted,

30 and said to Ya‘akov, “Please! Let me gulp down some of that red stuff — that red stuff! I’m exhausted!” (This is why he was called Edom [red].)

31 Ya‘akov answered, “First sell me your rights as the firstborn.”

32 “Look, I’m about to die!” said ‘Esav. “What use to me are my rights as the firstborn?”

33 Ya‘akov said, “First, swear to me!” So he swore to him, thus selling his birthright to Ya‘akov.

34 Then Ya‘akov gave him bread and lentil stew; he ate and drank, got up and went on his way. Thus ‘Esav showed how little he valued his birthright.

1 A famine came over the land, not the same as the first famine, which had taken place when Avraham was alive. Yitz’chak went to G’rar, to Avimelekh king of the P’lishtim.

2 Adonaiappeared to him and said, “Don’t go down into Egypt, but live where I tell you.

3 Stay in this land, and I will be with you and bless you, because I will give all these lands to you and to your descendants. I will fulfill the oath which I swore to Avraham your father —

4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, I will give all these lands to your descendants, and by your descendants all the nations of the earth will bless themselves.

5 All this is because Avraham heeded what I said and did what I told him to do — he followed mymitzvot, my regulations and my teachings.”

(ii)

6 So Yitz’chak settled in G’rar.

7 The men of the place asked him about his wife, and out of fear he said, “She is my sister.” He thought, “If I tell them she’s my wife, they might kill me in order to take Rivkah. After all, she is a beautiful woman.”

8 But one day, after he had lived there a long time, Avimelekh king of the P’lishtim happened to be looking out of a window when he spotted Yitz’chak caressing Rivkah his wife.

9 Avimelekh summoned Yitz’chak and said, “So she is your wife, after all! How come you said, ‘She is my sister’?” Yitz’chak responded, “Because I thought, ‘I could get killed because of her.’”

10 Avimelekh said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people could easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us!”

11 Then Avimelekh warned all the people: “Whoever touches this man or his wife will certainly be put to death.”

12 Yitz’chak planted crops in that land and reaped that year a hundred times as much as he had sowed.Adonaihad blessed him.

(iii)

13 The man became rich and prospered more and more, until he had become very wealthy indeed.

14 He had flocks, cattle and a large household; and the P’lishtim envied him.

15 Now the P’lishtim had stopped up and filled with dirt all the wells his father’s servants had dug during the lifetime of Avraham his father.

16 Avimelekh said to Yitz’chak, “You must go away from us, because you have become much more powerful than we are.”

17 So Yitz’chak left, set up camp inVadiG’rar and lived there.

18 Yitz’chak reopened the wells which had been dug during the lifetime of Avraham his father, the ones the P’lishtim had stopped up after Avraham died, and called them by the names his father had used for them.

19 Yitz’chak’s servants dug in thevadiand uncovered a spring of running water.

20 But the herdsmen of G’rar quarreled with Yitz’chak’s herdsmen, claiming, “That water is ours!” So he called the well ‘Esek [quarrel], because they quarreled with him.

21 They dug another well and quarreled over that one too. So he called it Sitnah [enmity].

22 He went away from there and dug another well, and over that one they didn’t quarrel. So he called it Rechovot [wide open spaces] and said, “Because nowAdonaihas made room for us, and we will be productive in the land.”

(iv)

23 From there Yitz’chak went up to Be’er-Sheva.

24 Adonaiappeared to him that same night and said, “I am the God of Avraham your father. Don’t be afraid, because I am with you; I will bless you and increase your descendants for the sake of my servant Avraham.”

25 There he built an altar and called on the name ofAdonai. He pitched his tent there, and there Yitz’chak’s servants dug a well.

26 Then Avimelekh went to him from G’rar with his friend Achuzat and Pikhol the commander of his army.

27 Yitz’chak said to them, “Why have you come to me, even though you were unfriendly to me and sent me away?”

28 They answered, “We saw very clearly thatAdonaihas been with you; so we said, ‘Let there be an oath between us: let’s make a pact between ourselves and you

29 that you will not harm us, just as we have not caused you offense but have done you nothing but good and sent you on your way in peace. Now you are blessed byAdonai.’”

(v)

30 Yitz’chak prepared a banquet for them, and they ate and drank.

31 The next morning, they got up early and swore to each other. Then Yitz’chak sent them on their way, and they left him peacefully.

32 That very day Yitz’chak’s servants came and told him about the well they had dug, “We have found water.”

33 So he called it Shiv‘ah [oath, seven], and for this reason the name of the city is Be’er-Sheva [well of seven, well of an oath] to this day.

34 When ‘Esav was forty years old, he took as wives Y’hudit the daughter of Be’eri the Hitti and Basmat the daughter of Elon the Hitti.

35 But they became a cause for embitterment of spirit to Yitz’chak and Rivkah.

1 In the course of time, after Yitz’chak had grown old and his eyes dim, so that he couldn’t see, he called ‘Esav his older son and said to him, “My son?” and he answered, “Here I am.”

2 “Look, I’m old now, I don’t know when I will die.

3 Therefore, please take your hunting gear — your quiver of arrows and your bow; go out in the country, and get me some game.

4 Make it tasty, the way I like it; and bring it to me to eat. Then I will bless you [as firstborn], before I die.”

5 Rivkah was listening when Yitz’chak spoke to his son ‘Esav. So when ‘Esav went out to the country to hunt for game and bring it back,

6 she said to her son Ya‘akov, “Listen! I heard your father telling ‘Esav your brother,

7 ‘Bring me game, and make it tasty, so I can eat it. Then I will give you my blessing in the presence ofAdonai, before my death.’

8 Now pay attention to me, my son; and do what I tell you.

9 Go to the flock, and bring me back two choice kids. I will make it tasty for your father, the way he likes it;

10 and you will bring it to your father to eat; so that he will give his blessing to you before his death.”

11 Ya‘akov answered Rivkah his mother, “Look, ‘Esav is hairy, but I have smooth skin.

12 Suppose my father touches me — he’ll know I’m trying to trick him, and I’ll bring a curse on myself, not a blessing!”

13 But his mother said, “Let your curse be on me. Just listen to me, and go get me the kids!”

14 So he went, got them and brought them to his mother; and his mother prepared them in the tasty way his father loved.

15 Next, Rivkah took ‘Esav her older son’s best clothes, which she had with her in the house, and put them on Ya‘akov her younger son;

16 and she put the skins of the goats on his hands and on the smooth parts of his neck.

17 Then she gave the tasty food and the bread she had prepared to her son Ya‘akov.

18 He went to his father and said, “My father?” He replied, “Here I am; who are you, my son?”

19 Ya‘akov said to his father, “I am ‘Esav your firstborn. I’ve done what you asked me to do. Get up now, sit down, eat the game, and then give me your blessing.”

20 Yitz’chak said to his son, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Adonaiyour God made it happen that way.”

21 Yitz’chak said to Ya‘akov, “Come here, close to me, so I can touch you, my son, and know whether you are in fact my son ‘Esav or not.”

22 Ya‘akov approached Yitz’chak his father, who touched him and said, “The voice is Ya‘akov’s voice, but the hands are ‘Esav’s hands.”

23 However, he didn’t detect him; because his hands were hairy like his brother ‘Esav’s hands; so he gave him his blessing.

24 He asked, “Are you really my son ‘Esav?” And he replied, “I am.”

25 He said, “Bring it here to me, and I will eat my son’s game, so that I can give you my blessing.” So he brought it up to him, and he ate; he also brought him wine, and he drank.

26 Then his father Yitz’chak said to him, “Come close now, and kiss me, my son.”

27 He approached and kissed him. Yitz’chak smelled his clothes and blessed Ya‘akov with these words: “See, my son smells like a field whichAdonaihas blessed.(vi)

28 So may God give you dew from heaven, the richness of the earth, and grain and wine in abundance.

29 May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be lord over your kinsmen, let your mother’s descendants bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”

30 But as soon as Yitz’chak had finished giving his blessing to Ya‘akov, when Ya‘akov had barely left his father’s presence, ‘Esav his brother came in from his hunting.

31 He too had prepared a tasty meal and brought it to his father, and now he said to his father, “Let my father get up and eat from his son’s game, so that you may give me your blessing.”

32 Yitz’chak his father said to him, “Who are you?” and he answered, “I am your son, your firstborn, ‘Esav.”

33 Yitz’chak began trembling uncontrollably and said, “Then who was it that took game and brought it to me? I ate it all just before you came, and I gave my blessing to him. That’s the truth, and the blessing must stand.”

34 When ‘Esav heard his father’s words he burst into loud, bitter sobbing. “Father, bless me too,” he begged.

35 He replied, “Your brother came deceitfully and took away your blessing.”

36 ‘Esav said, “His name, Ya‘akov [he supplants], really suits him — because he has supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright, and here, now he has taken away my blessing!” Then he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”

37 Yitz’chak answered ‘Esav, “Look, I have made him your lord, I have given him all his kinsmen as servants, and I have given him grain and wine to sustain him. What else is there that I can do for you, my son?”

38 ‘Esav said to his father, “Have you only one blessing, my father? Father, bless me too!” ‘Esav wept aloud,

39 and Yitz’chak his father answered him: “Here! Your home will be of the richness of the earth and of the dew of heaven from above.

40 You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. But when you break loose, you will shake his yoke off your neck.”

41 ‘Esav hated his brother because of the blessing his father had given him. ‘Esav said to himself, “The time for mourning my father will soon come, and then I will kill my brother Ya‘akov.”

42 But the words of ‘Esav her older son were told to Rivkah. She sent for Ya‘akov her younger son and said to him, “Here, your brother ‘Esav is comforting himself over you by planning to kill you.

43 Therefore, my son, listen to me: get up and escape to Lavan my brother in Haran.

44 Stay with him a little while, until your brother’s anger subsides.

45 Your brother’s anger will turn away from you, and he will forget what you did to him. Then I’ll send and bring you back from there. Why should I lose both of you on the same day?”

46 Rivkah said to Yitz’chak, “I’m sick to death of Hitti women! If Ya‘akov marries one of the Hitti women, like those who live here, my life won’t be worth living.”

1 So Yitz’chak called Ya‘akov, and, after blessing him, charged him: “You are not to choose a wife from the Hitti women.

2 Go now to the home of B’tu’el your mother’s father, and choose a wife there from the daughters of Lavan your mother’s brother.

3 MayEl Shaddaibless you, make you fruitful and increase your descendants, until they become a whole assembly of peoples.

4 And may he give you the blessing which he gave Avraham, you and your descendants with you, so that you will possess the land you will travel through, the land God gave to Avraham.”

(vii)

5 So Yitz’chak sent Ya‘akov away; and he went to Paddan-Aram, to Lavan, son of B’tu’el the Arami, the brother of Rivkah Ya‘akov’s and ‘Esav’s mother.

6 Now ‘Esav saw that Yitz’chak had blessed Ya‘akov and sent him away to Paddan-Aram to choose a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he charged him, “You are not to choose a Kena‘ani woman as your wife,”(Maftir)

7 and that Ya‘akov had listened to his father and mother and gone to Paddan-Aram.

8 ‘Esav also saw that the Kena‘ani women did not please Yitz’chak his father.

9 So ‘Esav went to Yishma‘el and took, in addition to the wives he already had, Machalat the daughter of Yishma‘el Avraham’s son, the sister of N’vayot, to be his wife.

Haftarah Tol’dot: Mal’akhi (Malachi) 1:1–2:7

B’rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah Tol’dot: Romans 9:6–16; Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 11:20; 12:14–17

Parashah 7: Vayetze (He went out) 28:10 –32:3(2)

10 Ya‘akov went out from Be’er-Sheva and traveled toward Haran.

11 He came to a certain place and stayed the night there, because the sun had set. He took a stone from the place, put it under his head and lay down there to sleep.

12 He dreamt that there before him was a ladder resting on the ground with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels ofAdonaiwere going up and down on it.

13 Then suddenlyAdonaiwas standing there next to him; and he said, “I amAdonai, the God of Avraham your [grand]father and the God of Yitz’chak. The land on which you are lying I will give to you and to your descendants.

14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the grains of dust on the earth. You will expand to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. By you and your descendants all the families of the earth will be blessed.

15 Look, I am with you. I will guard you wherever you go, and I will bring you back into this land, because I won’t leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

16 Ya‘akov awoke from his sleep and said, “Truly,Adonaiis in this place — and I didn’t know it!”

17 Then he became afraid and said, “This place is fearsome! This has to be the house of God! This is the gate of heaven!”

18 Ya‘akov got up early in the morning, took the stone he had put under his head, set it up as a standing-stone, poured olive oil on its top

19 and named the place Beit-El [house of God]; but the town had originally been called Luz.

20 Ya‘akov took this vow: “If God will be with me and will guard me on this road that I am traveling, giving me bread to eat and clothes to wear,

21 so that I return to my father’s house in peace, thenAdonaiwill be my God;

22 and this stone, which I have set up as a standing-stone, will be God’s house; and of everything you give me, I will faithfully return one-tenth to you.”

1 (ii)Continuing his journey, Ya‘akov came to the land of the people of the east.

2 As he looked, he saw a well in a field; and there were three flocks of sheep lying there next to it; because they watered the sheep from that well. The stone on the well’s mouth was large,

3 and only when all the flocks had gathered there would they roll the stone away from the opening of the well and water the sheep. Then they would put the stone back in its place on the well’s opening.

4 Ya‘akov said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” They answered, “We’re from Haran.”

5 He asked them, “Do you know Lavan the [grand]son of Nachor?” They said, “We do.”

6 He asked them, “Are things going well with him?” “Yes,” they answered, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”

7 He said, “Look, there’s still plenty of daylight left; and it isn’t time to bring the animals home; so water the sheep; then go, and put them out to pasture.”

8 They answered, “We can’t, not until all the flocks have been gathered together, and they roll the stone away from the opening of the well. That’s when we water the sheep.”

9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, because she took care of them.

10 When Ya‘akov saw Rachel the daughter of Lavan his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Lavan his mother’s brother, Ya‘akov went up and rolled the stone away from the opening of the well and watered the flock of Lavan his mother’s brother.

11 Ya‘akov kissed Rachel and wept aloud.

12 Ya‘akov told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was Rivkah’s son; and she ran and told her father.

13 When Lavan heard the news of Ya‘akov his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, hugged him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Ya‘akov told Lavan all that had happened.

14 Lavan said to him, “You are indeed my own flesh and blood.”

After Ya‘akov had stayed with him for a whole month,

15 Lavan said to him, “Why should you work for me for nothing, just because you are my relative? Tell me how much I should pay you.”

16 Now Lavan had two daughters; the name of the older was Le’ah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

17 Le’ah’s eyes were weak; but Rachel was good-looking, with beautiful features.

(iii)

18 Ya‘akov had fallen in love with Rachel and said, “I will work for you seven years in exchange for Rachel your younger daughter.”

19 Lavan answered, “Better that I give her to you than to someone else; stay with me.”

20 So Ya‘akov worked seven years for Rachel, and it seemed only a few days to him, because he was so much in love with her.

21 Ya‘akov said to Lavan, “Give me my wife, since my time is finished, so that I can start living with her.”

22 Lavan gathered all the men of the place and gave a banquet.

23 In the evening he took Le’ah his daughter and brought her to Ya‘akov, and he went in and slept with her.

24 Lavan also gave his slave-girl Zilpah to his daughter Le’ah as her slave-girl.

25 In the morning Ya‘akov saw that he was with Le’ah, and he said to Lavan, “What kind of thing is this that you’ve done to me? Didn’t I work for you for Rachel? Why have you deceived me?”

26 Lavan answered, “In our place that isn’t how it’s done, to give the younger daughter before the firstborn.

27 Finish the marriage week of this one, and we’ll give you the other one also in exchange for the work you will do for me during yet another seven years.”

28 Ya‘akov agreed to this, so he finished her week, and Lavan gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

29 Lavan also gave to his daughter Rachel his slave-girl Bilhah as her slave-girl.

30 So not only did Ya‘akov go in and sleep with Rachel, but he also loved Rachel more than Le’ah. Then he served Lavan another seven years.

31 Adonaisaw that Le’ah was unloved, so he made her fertile, while Rachel remained childless.

32 Le’ah conceived and gave birth to a son, whom she named Re’uven [see, a son!], for she said, “It is becauseAdonaihas seen how humiliated I have been, but now my husband will love me.”

33 She conceived again, gave birth to a son and said, “It is becauseAdonaihas heard that I am unloved; therefore he has given me this son also.” So she named him Shim‘on [hearing].

34 Once more she conceived and had a son; and she said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore she named him Levi [joining].

35 She conceived yet again, had a son and said, “This time I will praiseAdonai”; therefore she named him Y’hudah [praise]. Then she stopped having children.

1 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing children for Ya‘akov, she envied her sister and said to Ya‘akov, “Give me children, or I will die!”

2 This made Ya‘akov angry at Rachel; he answered, “Am I in God’s place? He’s the one who is denying you children.”

3 She said, “Here is my maid Bilhah. Go, sleep with her, and let her give birth to a child that will be laid on my knees, so that through her I too can build a family.”

4 So she gave him Bilhah her slave-girl as his wife, and Ya‘akov went in and slept with her.

5 Bilhah conceived and bore Ya‘akov a son.

6 Rachel said, “God has judged in my favor; indeed he has heard me and given me a son.” Therefore she called him Dan [he judged].

7 Bilhah Rachel’s slave-girl conceived again and bore Ya‘akov a second son.

8 Rachel said, “I have wrestled mightily with my sister and won,” and called him Naftali [my wrestling].

9 When Le’ah saw that she had stopped having children, she took Zilpah her slave-girl and gave her to Ya‘akov as his wife.

10 Zilpah Le’ah’s slave-girl bore Ya‘akov a son;

11 and Le’ah said, “Good fortune has come,” calling him Gad [good fortune].

12 Zilpah Le’ah’s slave-girl bore Ya‘akov a second son;

13 and Le’ah said, “How happy I am! Women will say I am happy!” and called him Asher [happy].

(iv)

14 During the wheat harvest season Re’uven went and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Le’ah. Rachel said to Le’ah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes [so that I can be fertile].”

15 She answered, “Isn’t it enough that you have taken away my husband? Do you have to take my son’s mandrakes too?” Rachel said, “Very well; in exchange for your son’s mandrakes, sleep with him tonight.”

16 When Ya‘akov came in from the field in the evening, Le’ah went out to meet him and said, “You have to come and sleep with me, because I’ve hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So Ya‘akov slept with her that night.

17 God listened to Le’ah, and she conceived and bore Ya‘akov a fifth son.

18 Le’ah said, “God has given me my hire, because I gave my slave-girl to my husband.” So she called him Yissakhar [hire, reward].

19 Le’ah conceived again and bore a sixth son to Ya‘akov.

20 Le’ah said, “God has given me a wonderful gift. Now at last my husband will live with me, since I have borne him six sons.” And she called him Z’vulun [living together].

21 After this, she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah [controversy over rights].

22 Then God took note of Rachel, heeded her prayer and made her fertile.

23 She conceived, had a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.”

24 She called him Yosef [may he add], saying, “MayAdonaiadd to me another son.”

25 After Rachel had given birth to Yosef, Ya‘akov said to Lavan, “Send me on my way, so that I can return to my own place, to my own country.

26 Let me take my wives, for whom I have served you, and my children; and let me go. You know very well how faithfully I have served you.”

27 Lavan answered him, “If you regard me favorably, then please listen: I have observed the signs thatAdonaihas blessed me on account of you.(v)

28 Name your wages,” he said; “I will pay them.”

29 Ya‘akov replied, “You know how faithfully I have served you and how your livestock have prospered under my care.

30 The few you had before I came have increased substantially;Adonaihas blessed you wherever I went. But now, when will I provide for my own household?”

31 Lavan said, “What should I give you?” “Nothing,” answered Ya‘akov, “just do this one thing for me: once more I will pasture your flock and take care of it.

32 I will also go through the flock and pick out every speckled, spotted or brown sheep, and every speckled or spotted goat; these and their offspring will be my wages.

33 And I will let my integrity stand as witness against me in the future: when you come to look over the animals constituting my wages, every goat that isn’t speckled or spotted and every sheep that isn’t brown will count as stolen by me.”

34 Lavan replied, “As you have said, so be it.”

35 That day Lavan removed the male goats that were streaked or spotted and all the female goats that were speckled or spotted, every one with white on it, and all the brown sheep; turned them over to his sons;

36 and put three days’ distance between himself and Ya‘akov. Ya‘akov fed the rest of Lavan’s flocks.

37 Ya‘akov took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white streaks on them by peeling off the bark.

38 Then he set the rods he had peeled upright in the watering troughs, so that the animals would see them when they came to drink. And since they bred when they came to drink,

39 the animals mated in sight of the rods and gave birth to streaked, speckled and spotted young.

40 Ya‘akov divided the lambs and had the animals mate with the streaked and the brown in the flock of Lavan. He also kept his own livestock separate and did not have them mix with Lavan’s flock.

41 Whenever the hardier animals came into heat, Ya‘akov would set up the rods in the watering troughs; so that the animals would see them and conceive in front of them;

42 but he didn’t set up the rods in front of the weaker animals. Thus the more feeble were Lavan’s and the stronger Ya‘akov’s.

43 In this way the man became very rich and had large flocks, along with male and female slaves, camels and donkeys.

1 But then he heard what Lavan’s sons were saying: “Ya‘akov has taken away everything that our father once had. It’s from what used to belong to our father that he has gotten so rich.”

2 He also saw that Lavan regarded him differently than before.

3 Adonaisaid to Ya‘akov, “Return to the land of your ancestors, to your kinsmen; I will be with you.”

4 So Ya‘akov sent for Rachel and Le’ah and had them come to the field where his flock was.

5 He said to them, “I see by the way your father looks that he feels differently toward me than before; but the God of my father has been with me.

6 You know that I have served your father with all my strength,

7 and that your father has belittled me and has changed my wages ten times; but God did not allow him to do me any damage.

8 If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then all the animals gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then all the animals gave birth to streaked young.

9 This is how God has taken away your father’s animals and given them to me.

10 Once, when the animals were mating, I had a dream: I looked up and there in front of me the male goats which mated with the females were streaked, speckled and mottled.

11 Then, in the dream, the angel of God said to me, ‘Ya‘akov!’ and I replied, ‘Here I am.’

12 He continued, ‘Raise your eyes now, and look: all the male goats mating with the females are streaked, speckled and mottled; for I have seen everything Lavan has been doing to you.

13 I am the God of Beit-El, where you anointed a standing-stone with oil, where you vowed your vow to me. Now get up, get out of this land, and return to the land where you were born.’”

14 Rachel and Le’ah answered him, “We no longer have any inheritance from our father’s possessions;

15 and he considers us foreigners, since he has sold us; moreover, he has consumed everything he received in exchange for us.

16 Nevertheless, the wealth which God has taken away from our father has become ours and our children’s anyway; so whatever God has told you to do, do.”

(vi)

17 Then Ya‘akov got up, put his sons and wives on the camels,

18 and carried off all his livestock, along with all the riches he had accumulated, the livestock in his possession which he had acquired in Paddan-Aram, to go to Yitz’chak his father in the land of Kena‘an.

19 Now Lavan had gone to shear his sheep, so Rachel stole the household idols that belonged to her father,

20 and Ya‘akov outwitted Lavan the Arami by not telling him of his intended flight.

21 So he fled with everything he had: he departed, crossed the [Euphrates] River and set out for the hill-country of Gil‘ad.

22 Not until the third day was Lavan told that Ya‘akov had fled.

23 Lavan took his kinsmen with him and spent the next seven days pursuing Ya‘akov, overtaking him in the hill-country of Gil‘ad.

24 But God came to Lavan the Arami in a dream that night and said to him, “Be careful that you don’t say anything to Ya‘akov, either good or bad.”

25 When Lavan caught up with Ya‘akov, Ya‘akov had set up camp in the hill-country; so Lavan and his kinsmen set up camp in the hill-country of Gil‘ad.

26 Lavan said to Ya‘akov, “What do you mean by deceiving me and carrying off my daughters as if they were captives taken in war?

27 Why did you flee in secret and deceive me and not tell me? I would have sent you off with joy and singing to the music of tambourines and lyres.

28 You didn’t even let me kiss my sons and daughters good-bye! What a stupid thing to do!

29 I have it in my power to do you harm; but the God of your father spoke to me last night and said, ‘Be careful that you don’t say anything to Ya‘akov, either good or bad.’

30 Granted that you had to leave, because you longed so deeply for your father’s house; but why did you steal my gods?”

31 Ya‘akov answered Lavan, “Because I was afraid. I said, ‘Suppose you take your daughters away from me by force?’

32 But if you find your gods with someone, that person will not remain alive. So with our kinsmen to witness, if you spot anything that I have which belongs to you, take it back.” Ya‘akov did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

33 Lavan went into Ya‘akov’s tent, then into Le’ah’s tent and into the tent of the two slave-girls; but he did not find them. He left Le’ah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.

34 Now Rachel had taken the household gods, put them in the saddle of the camel and was sitting on them. Lavan felt all around the tent but did not find them.

35 She said to her father, “Please don’t be angry that I’m not getting up in your presence, but it’s the time of my period.” So he searched, but he didn’t find the household gods.

36 Then Ya‘akov became angry and started arguing with Lavan. “What have I done wrong?” he demanded. “What is my offense, that you have come after me in hot pursuit?

37 You have felt around in all my stuff, but what have you found of all your household goods? Put it here, in front of my kinsmen and yours, so that they can render judgment between the two of us!

38 I have been with you for these twenty years! Your female sheep and goats haven’t aborted their young, and I haven’t eaten the male animals in your flocks.

39 If one of your flock was destroyed by a wild animal, I didn’t bring the carcass to you but bore the loss myself. You demanded that I compensate you for any animal stolen, whether by day or by night.

40 Here’s how it was for me: during the day thirst consumed me, and at night the cold — my sleep fled from my eyes.

41 These twenty years I’ve been in your house — I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock; and you changed my wages ten times!

42 If the God of my father, the God of Avraham, the one whom Yitz’chak fears, had not been on my side, by now you would certainly have already sent me away with nothing! God has seen how distressed I’ve been and how hard I’ve worked, and last night he passed judgment in my favor.”

(vii)

43 Lavan answered Ya‘akov, “The daughters are mine, the children are mine, the flocks are mine, and everything you see is mine! But what can I do today about these daughters of mine or the children they have borne?

44 So now, come, let’s make a covenant, I and you; and let it stand as a testimony between me and you.”

45 Ya‘akov took a stone and set it upright as a standing-stone.

46 Then Ya‘akov said to his kinsmen, “Gather some stones”; and they took stones, made a pile of them and ate there by the pile of stones.

47 Lavan called it Y’gar-Sahaduta [“pile of witness” in Aramaic], while Ya‘akov called it Gal-‘Ed [“pile of witness” in Hebrew].

48 Lavan said, “This pile witnesses between me and you today.” This is why it is called Gal-‘Ed

49 and also HaMitzpah [the watchtower], because he said, “MayAdonaiwatch between me and you when we are apart from each other.

50 If you cause pain to my daughters, or if you take wives in addition to my daughters, then, even if no one is there with us, still God is witness between me and you.”

51 Lavan also said to Ya‘akov, “Here is this pile, and here is this standing-stone, which I have set up between me and you.

52 May this pile be a witness, and may the standing-stone be a witness, that I will not pass beyond this pile to you, and you will not pass beyond this pile and this standing-stone to me, to cause harm.

53 May the God of Avraham and also the god of Nachor, the god of their father, judge between us.” But Ya‘akov swore by the One his father Yitz’chak feared.

54 Ya‘akov offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his kinsmen to the meal. They ate the food and spent the whole night on the mountain.